Army Ornithological SocietyArmy Ornithological Society Blog
Cyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 14 Dec
A year ago this week Little Bustard at Geri in the Buffer Zone.
No play on Monday and a brief visit to Akhna Dam on Tuesday produced a Reed Bunting that was the first for the site this winter. 7 Redshanks, 7 Dunlins and a Temminck’s Stint were present with 2 Grey Herons and 41 Coots, however 20 Water Pipits was a good count with a similar number of Meadow Pipits and White Wagtails. C60 Corn Buntings were in the fields with a handful of Stonechats in various places but that was about it on a wet, dull and thundery day.
On Wednesday the 9th I visited Gulserin Pond, which now has water once more. 28 Flamingos were present along with a handful of Spur-winged Plovers and a Snipe. A sizeable Black-headed Gull flock was roosting and 3 Redshanks fed along the edges of the water. Moving onto Clapsides Beach, nothing was on the marsh, however, on the rocky outcrop looking from the beach a flock of at least 100 Golden Plovers were roosting with 3 Grey Plovers foraging amongst the rock pools. A good flock of Dunlins also roosted and on the beach, Kentish Plovers, Ringed Plovers and a few Little Stints ran around. A single curlew was in the surf and a Slender-billed Gull was the only gull that was present. Silver beach also had 21 Flamingos present along with a lone Golden Plover. I stopped at Fresh Water Lake North, which looks like an excellent site but it’s very difficult to get into a position to view anything. Anyway, I found a pile of rubbish and balanced on top with my scope and found some good birds but there must be lots of occurrences that go unrecorded here. Wildfowl were in good numbers including, Pintails, Widgeon, Shovelers, Teal and Mallards. 38 Greater Flamingos were present and a good winter count of 8 Black-winged Stilts was notable.
My final stop of the day was Fresh Water Lake South. Always worth a visit and probably the best wetland on the island at the moment, notwithstanding the potential of the North Lake. Herons were the flavour of the day with 2 Great White Egrets, 9 Grey Herons, 14 Night Herons, 2 Little Egrets and c450 Cattle Egrets which were joined by the 2 wintering Glossy Ibises. A couple of Kingfishers chased each other, c600 Starlings flew to roost and a couple of Snipe hid in the undergrowth. Finally a good count of 66 Cormorants roosted in the eucalyptus and a Water Rail was heard.
The rest of the week was a washout due to heavy rain, work commitments, seasonal festive activities, the inevitable hangovers and Deb’s Birthday on the 14th, so consequently the longest period without any birding since being on Cyprus commenced.
Highlights of the Week: In a week full of dulls and personal inactivity, wintering Grey Plovers and a Slender-billed Gull were good records.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
CommentsSPTA West
In Imber the Warriors had taken up all round defence however a Merlin with prey clutched in its claws was having none ot it as it sped past. It has been a cold and windy start to the month and at times there were few birds. That said at a small wood about a km from NZ Farm there were over 200 Chaffinches mainly on the ground looking through the beech mast. Nearby a pair of Stonechats were surveying their territory. In fact I have seen quite a few pairs this month across the area. Early in the month I gave a talk to the Wiltshire Ornithological Society about the area and am expecting quite a number for the walk at the end of the month. Hopefully we will see some of the more specialist birds. The Starling mumuration has reached at least 500k birds at the COTEC site and the other day at the Signpost by Bombard OP I watched a male Hen Harrier and a Merlin for at least half an hour. There have been plenty of Kestrels about as well as Buzzards. I have also seen a ringtail near NZ Farm heading to the Centre. The whole area is covered with Fieldfares and Redwings that number hundreds in the size of flocks. The scrubby area at Imber Firs was covered in them. Fishhook provided 8 Woodcock yesterday and there were 2 Snipe out in the open grass. The valleys and slopes to the east of Imber Copse have been cleared of scrub and only Meadow Pipits seem interested in it. I checked out the perimeter of the "Green Zone" and found 2 Chiffchaffs! There are plenty of tits around including Coal Tits in the dense area of firs. They have formed large flocks in the main as at the tank traps there was a single Long-tailed Tit! Wherever there are large flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares there is normally a pair of Mistle Thrushes lurking nearby. The highlight for me was when a Peregrine flew directly overhead at a few metres height; naturally I did not have my camera for this event. Anyway so far this month I have recorded 41 species on SPTA West.
CommentsCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 7 Dec 14
1st Winter Kittiwake at Larnaca Sea Front – McKenzie’s Beach Marina on 7 Dec (The 7th Record for Cyprus).
Monday and a long day prevented any birding once more. On Tuesday I managed to get to Fresh Water Lake South for about 45 minutes as dusk which was productive. 7 Night Herons were in the usual roost and the 2 wintering Glossy Ibises joined the Cattle Egret throng at dusk. Cormorants numbered 61 (the biggest count so far this winter) and 7 Ferruginous Ducks were present. A few Redshanks were amongst the numerous Spur-winged Plovers and several Kingfishers were very vocal.
A quick visit to Akhna Dam on Wednesday and the Little Owl was back in its favourite roost with a Great White Egret and 5 Redshanks on the dam was about it. A Grey Wagtail flew over the road at Ay Nik, however it was all pretty dull. On Thursday, came the news that I’d been selected for promotion to Major, so the obvious happened – no birding. On Friday, I was busy so didn’t manage to get out. Saturday 6th and I went on a KUSKOR field trip in the north in the hope of finding some Rock Buntings at Five Finger Mountain. The search was unsuccessful but there were numerous Black Redstarts, Sardinian and Cyprus Warblers with a good sprinkling of Song Thrushes. C90 Cormorants passed overhead and above the peaks a pair of Peregrines chased each other. As we were leaving a female Hen Harrier passed overhead. Onto Buffavento Castle where a Raven was a good sighting (they are becoming very difficult to find), with many Kestrels a Sparrowhawk and a Goshawk over the peaks. A few Blackbirds were present with the usual Sardinian Warblers. At Tashkent the search for Finsch’s Wheatears was successful with 2 being seen and a supporting cast of Black Redstarts and Stonechats.
We continued to a seasonal wetland at Sinirustu where a couple of Widgeon, Mallard and Teal were joined by a single Shoveller and several Little Grebes. The biggest surprise here was loan Greylag Goose – the first of the winter. Koprulu was a shadow of its former self but did provide views of 3 female Marsh Harriers and some Mallards and Teal, whilst in the fields Corn Buntings, Skylarks and Crested Larks flew away from the car. We finished the day at Fresh Water Lake South where a respectable c50 Cormorants were seen. The 2 Glossy Ibises came to roost, joined by 4 Great White Egrets and an impressive count of 23 Night Herons were in the roost. 11 Ferruginous Ducks flushed and c3000 Starlings were in a mermeration. Gulls of mainly Black-headed types with a few Yellow-legs and Caspians bathed before flying to roost. A wintering Spotted Redshank was with a handful of Common Redshanks, 4 Green Sandpipers were on the muddy fringes and a good count of 74 Spur-winged Plovers were in the majority. The only Snipes of the day were seen and as we were departing a Sparrowhawk did a fly though.
An early start of Sunday saw me driving to Asprokremnos Dam near Paphos in search of a previously reported possible 7th record of Scaup for Cyprus. The bird, a female looked convincing but a hybrid or strange Tufted Duck had not been ruled out. In any event it was gone but a male Pintail was amongst a sizeable flock of Teal, Mallards and Cormorants. A pair of low flying Bonelli’s Eagles was a bonus and a Great Tit and Sardinian Warbler was seen on the hillside as I watched. Whilst there I spoke to Colin Richardson who’d found the bird and he told me of a White-headed Duck and Kittiwake in the Larnaca area. I waited and searched for another half and hour before heading east. Arriving at Larnaca c200 Greater Flamingos were on Kiti Pool and on Larnaca Airport Pool South a few gulls, mainly Yellow-legged, and Caspians were joined by 2 Med Gulls – an adult and 1st Winter. At the sewage Works 12 Flamingos were present with the 8 wintering White-fronted Geese. A couple of Cormorants loafed with a Shelduck in close proximity. 3 Ruff and a Redshank were on the black plastic surround and careful searching produced a drake Pintail and 2 Black-necked Grebes. A pair of calling Curlews passed over the lagoons and 2 Black-winged Stilts were feeding near 4 Widgeon. Sadly, no sign of the White-headed Duck, so 2 dips in a day – not good! C150 Golden Plovers were on Spiro’s Pool but with nothing else for it, I decided to got to McKenzie Beach Marina in search of the previously reported Kittiwake for my 3rd dip of the day. As I looked amongst the yachts, remarkable there was a 1st winter Kittiwake* washing – the 7th record and a Cyprus “tick” for me - I was delighted so took a few decent photos of the bird. It washed for about 10 minutes as I watched and then gone over the breakwater and out to sea – so a stroke of luck to end the day. Heading for a celebratory KFC, I stopped at Dolphin Rocks, Oroklini where c150 Black-headed Gulls were joined by a single Yellow-legged Gull and on the rocks a pair of Sandwich Terns.
The day had ended in success with my 261st bird of the year and number 312 (with one pending on my Cyprus List).
Highlights of the Week: The 1st winter Kittiwake at Larnaca Seafront, McKenzie Beach Marina, constituting the 7th Cyprus record and a bird I didn’t imagine I’d get on my Cyprus List.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
CommentsCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 30 Nov 14
Moustached Warbler at Ezouzas Lower Pools – courtesy of Tim Cowley.
Monday was the final day of the AOS tour and turned into a mini bird race, covering a great deal of the island in the quest to achieve a good tally of species – “It’s All About The List”. An early breakfast had been booked so we departed the hotel at 0700 on route to Kensington Cliffs. We paused and with a little luck saw 7 Griffon Vultures, which probably constitutes the Cyprus wild population. Walking around the area I heard several Cyprus Warblers and eventually saw at least 3. It would have been a shame to miss this bird, although they are more difficult in the winter and it does appear that the species is less numerous due to the increase in less habitat specific Sardinian Warblers. A short trip to Phassouri ensured a chance encounter with another target bird that I thought we might miss. A female Black Francolin was feeding along the edge of a reed bed and eventually walked into the road in full view. Geoff found a Penduline Tit which most of the group got onto and Zakaki Marsh held little, although a Bluethroat was seen briefly and a ringtail Hen Harrier was added to the list. The hour or so journey to Larnaca was uneventful except for the brief stop at McDonalds for coffee where Geoff moaned about the quality of the cuisine and the “Pathetic bit of bacon”. At Larnaca we eventually secured views of the only Spectacled Warbler seen by the whole group – a surprise for this common resident which had played hard to get. At the sewage works wildfowl was the focus, where we added 8 Greater White-fronted Geese, Shelduck, Pochard, Gadwall, Black-necked Grebe and the real surprise a pair of Tufted Ducks which were a good find for the group thanks to Tim. A single Black-winged Stilt of the trip was on the lagoons and a single Cormorant flew about.
Stopping at Larnaca Salt Lake on the way to Oroklini Marsh where Tim chipped in again with 5 Avocets. New birds added amongst the Greater Flamingo numbers were a Ringed Plover with Dunlins and Little Stints and 6 Ruff with 20 Redshanks. A Slender-billed Gull was amongst the Black-headed Gulls and several Armenian Gulls roosted at the north end of the lake. 34 Shelducks was the largest count of the winter so far but we moved onto Oroklini which was a bit disappointing but allowed us to add a nice male Pintail to the list. Another Marsh Harrier drifted over the marsh and 26 Lapwings with Spur-winged Plovers were also an addition. We stopped for lunch at Dolphin Rocks, Oroklini Coast where remarkably the first Sandwich Tern of the winter was seen loafing on the rocks with Black-headed Gulls, Yellow-legged Gulls and a single 1st winter Mediterranean Gull also loafing. After an enjoyable lunch and with our luck appearing to be good, I chanced my arm with a stop at Dhekelia Power Station which had been fruitless previously. Our luck was in, a pair of immature Shags of the Mediterranean race sat on the mooring buoys. Another bird secured, onto the Dhekelia Fire Station Stone Curlew roost. Disaster! The field had been ploughed and no birds were present. I drove on and had a hunch to drive down a track separating 2 stony fields. BINGO! Large numbers of Stone Curlews alighted and good views were had of an impressive 80 or so birds. Akhna Dam was a little dull although 5 Redshanks, a few Little Stints and Dunlins fed on the mud, with good numbers of Water and Meadow Pipits being present. A Great White Egret was added to the tally and the day was proving to be very productive.
With time saved due to the early successes of the week we still had time to fit a visit to The Fresh Water Lake South in the north. I stopped briefly at my house to get my passport and we were away. On crossing the border a particularly pretty Turkish Passport Control Officer caused a few raised eyebrows and comments. However, she amused us all by saying that Geoff looked like a man from the forest and lacked soul – who said first impressions aren’t accurate? Onto the site and we parked in the usual place next to the horse stables where the sun was at our back. The Night Herons were in their usual roost site (4 adults and 3 1CYs) and 2 Glossy Ibises flew into join the Cattle Egrets. I caught site of a perched black and white bird – amazing the long staying and difficult to see female Pied Kingfisher was posing in the open, a great bird for the group on the final day. As we watched in the fading light, Tim noticed 2 unseasonal Swallows above us and a Great White Egret flew into the west end of the site. A Spotted Redshank called and was then seen along with the commoner Redshanks and 3 Green Sandpipers were also noted before we departed for the trip to Larnaca Airport. 1720, job done, all targets seen, although the Pine Buntings would have been a MEGA bonus.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were birding write-offs for reasons better not put into print following a “successful” Silver Lunch in the Mess. On Friday we were invited to a Thanksgiving Dinner that started early so again no birding. On Saturday I was “busy” so didn’t manage to get out and on Sunday, I took Deb on the Xmas JUMBO run, buying a huge Santa Claus (deep joy), but also managed to do a bit of birding at Oroklini. On the coast Black-headed Gulls numbered about a 100 and Sandwich Terns had increased to 9 from 1 earlier in the week. At Oroklini Marsh, a Temminck’s Stint was the highlight with a handful of Redshanks. 35 Greater Flamingos were present, with c50 Spur-winged Plovers and 27 Northern Lapwings. A Marsh Harrier flushed a couple of Snipe and at eh other end of the Marsh a Reed Bunting and my first Moustached Warbler for this winter in the east of the island was seen. At Akhna Dam a Little Stint and Dunlin were with 5 Redshanks, Coots had increased to 35 and in the fields above a Black Redstart darted into a bush.
Highlights of the Week: The re-sighting of the female Pied Kingfisher on the last day of the AOS tour.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
CommentsSPTA West
I have covered a lot of the Plain putting in lists for the BTO. On Deptford Down a Treecreeper was in the mature trees as well as flocks of tits. Redwings were in the bushes and it was not long before flocks of these and Fieldfares covered the area. The bushes are laden with berries so there will be no shortage of food. There is a pheasant breeding pen in the area which attracts lots of birds to the feeding stations especially Chaffinches and Yellowhammers. Late October there were plenty of active Skylarks however they are now rare and do not show themselves until flushed. Meadow Pipits are still active wherever I walk. I was involved in a ringing session near New Zealand Farm mid November specifically to ring Redwing and we were reasonably successful as I was able to compare them in the hand. This winter on the 2 November I saw my first Merlin and on 16 November I saw my first Short-eared Owl in Berril Valley. There are still plenty of Barn Owls about as well as Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. As ever at this time of year there are large flocks of corvids especially where there are cows grazing. This week at Daisy's there was also a flock of 400+ Woodpigeons whch took to the air with Jackdaws, Rooks and Starlings filling the sky in a massive whirl of birds. The Starling mumuration has moved again this year and is back near Gore Cross. Current estimates is that there are over 200k birds but flocks continue to fly in after the main flock has settled so there could be a lot more. They are best viewd from the COTEC site when the flags are down. Winter thrushes also include Mistle and Song Thrushes which tend to move around in pairs. In the majority of copses both Goldcrest and Wren are vocal. There are plenty of sightings of Jays though I have only seen 1 raven this month. Corn Buntings are flocking together as well as Goldfinch and Linnet. The Hen Harrier surveys have started but none on the West as yet but several roosting in the impact area. There is not the vast areas of rank grassland as the grazing regime keeps a lot of the area at a decent length. Also the farmers are gradually clearing scrub according to a 5 year plan so the Plain is meeting the requirement as a SSSI of calceous grassland. The other notable matter to report is that there is a lot more track about which often puts areas out of bounds. I watched tanks manouevering across a large expanse from a couple of kms away; a place I could survey that day.
Comments
Follow us:
